In the recent social justice conference that was held just before the 2019 G3 Conference, I was given the assignment to speak on the subject of intersectionality. I’ve written on the subject of intersectionality (SBC and intersectionality, liberation theology, sufficiency of Scripture, why I signed the SS&J) over the past year leading up to this conference.
As I explain in the sermon, not only is it the building blocks for a brave new religion, it’s absolutely a flat denial of the sufficiency of Scripture. Do we really need to attach “woke” to the church of Jesus Christ? Is it really necessary to connect “social justice” with the gospel? Should Christians be laboring to make leftist political strategies sexy and cool? In order to live under the banner of the gospel as a slave of King Jesus—is there another manifesto or document or book that’s necessary to achieve God’s glory among his people in a broken sin cursed culture other than the Bible?
With all of the competing voices, books, conferences, and blog posts being written that suggest otherwise, I stand firm on my position that the Bible is sufficient and nothing else is necessary to achieve God’s will for his people in this fallen world. We don’t need to replace theology with victimology or the Scriptures with sociology. However, we’re living in a time when intersectionality and social justice tactics are being employed as a new church growth model.
Meanwhile, the boundaries of complementarianism are being revisited, racial tension is increasing among ethnic groups, and homosexuals are knocking on the door with the same demands from the same playbook of social justice. That’s why the social justice agenda is such a dangerous agenda.
Finally, it is a grotesque error to suggest that the framers (including me) of “The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel” are ignorant of injustices and social ills in our culture. The fact is, we believe the sins are real and present in our culture—even within the evangelical culture. The difference between us and the proponents of political social justice methods is that we believe the Scriptures are sufficient to address every evil, every injustice, every sin—no matter the size or complexity. Just as the Reformers embraced sola Scriptura during the days of the Reformation, we too continue to embrace sola Scriptura in our present culture as we face different challenges—none of which are bigger than God’s Word.
How is intersectionality a brave new religion? It replaces the gospel and central, rejects the sufficiency of Scripture, and through a woke cultural lens—works to rescue people from oppression and injustice. Once again, the question must be raised—is the gospel enough? Is the Word of God that brings the good news to the sinner who is lost in the darkness of our sin cursed world somehow not enough?
I trust the sermon will be an encouragement to you. I leave you with the very words of Charles Spurgeon in which I concluded my sermon in the conference:
This weapon is good at all points, good for defense and for attack, to guard our whole person or to strike through the joints and marrow of the foe. Like the seraph’s sword at Eden’s gate, it turns every way. You cannot be in a condition that the Word of God has not provided. The Word has as many faces and eyes as providence itself. You will find it unfailing in all periods of your life, in all circumstances, in all companies, in all trials, and under all difficulties. Were it fallible, it would be useless in emergencies, but its unerring truth renders it precious beyond all price to the soldiers of the cross (Sermon: Matthew 4:4).
Therefore my brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labor is not in vain in Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 15:58).
*All sermons and the panel discussion from the social justice conference can be accessed here.
